Code Red: Spain

An action crime thriller written and directed by Jason Figgis and starring Francesca Kingdon, Peter M. Smith, Paul Sparkes, Ariel Rodriguez and Ismael Abadal.

There is trouble in Spain. Crime boss Eduardo Sanchez (Arnau Redorta) has been killed after murdering a couple and their son. Now, his widow, Estelle (Kingdon) has decided to become an informant and enter a witness protection program. While she and her son, Ari (Rodriguez) await to be transferred from their home to a safe location, two Ex-Special Forces soldiers, Solomon (Smith) and Thomas (Sparkes) are assigned by their former Commanding Officer, Frank (Ian Burfield) to watch over them. Meanwhile, a ruthless and dangerous gangster named Cortes (Abadal) is determined to silence Estelle and Ari.

This film has an intriguing plot: two tough, ex-military men having to stay at a large house and protect two people from potential lethal dangers. The protagonists are interesting characters and the screenplay does a decent job in exploring them and in creating suspense and drama. There are plenty of guns and the cool action sequences involve shooting and hand-to-hand combat. Regarding the soundtrack, there is suspenseful music and Spanish music and some great tracks. Commendations also go to the animation during the opening and closing credits and to the impressive aerial shots that capture the beauty of the landscapes.

This feature is marketed as an action film, however, the action arrives during the third act and it arrives in buckets. Those who are hoping for an action-packed experience might be disappointed, nevertheless, the fact that this is not an action-filled story does not destroy the film, as instead of shooting and punching, the majority of the narrative focuses on character development and exploring the relationship between Estelle and Ari and the rapport they end up building with Solomon and Thomas.

Regarding the performances, Kingdon is very dramatic as a woman who has gone through terrible times after being married to a criminal. However, she is strong and wants to start a new life for herself and her son, away from danger. Rodriguez is sympathetic as a frightened youth who does not feel comfortable being near the two combat experts. As for the two combat experts, they dislike each other and have a history together, yet, both are proficient in their line of work. Solomon is a no-nonsense guy, while Thomas (who is quite good with a sniper rifle) is more relaxed and easy-going. Abadal is the bad guy, a murderous fiend who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Survival is a major theme in this story. So is mother-and-son relationships and reminiscing the past. This feature is also a commentary about isolation, self-reflection and inner strength.

An enjoyable viewing with a good story, well-explored characters and great dialogue that includes film references. It may not really be an action film, instead, it is strong as a crime thriller with suspense and drama.